Method of Supplemental Automotive Restraint for Pregnant Women

ABSTRACT

The “Supplemental Automotive Restraint System for Pregnant Women” consists of a protective shell structure with integral “Pelvic Yoke and Crotch Post”, “Breast Plate”, structural “Abdominal Bridge/Shell” over the abdomen between the “Pelvic Yoke” and the “Breast Plate”, “Shoulder Belt Retainer”, and appropriate padding and fill material, all of which work in conjunction with the standard automotive Type II lap and shoulder belt restraint system as required to be installed in all new passenger cars manufactured for sale in the United States by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208 (FMVSS 208). The purpose of the “Supplemental Automotive Restraint System for Pregnant Women” is to reduce the likelihood of injury to a pregnant mother and her unborn child during maneuvering, crash, or other non-impact event of a motor vehicle while the mother is driving or riding in the vehicle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This nonprovisional patent application is a continuation of, and claimsall benefits associated with Provisional U.S. Patent Application No.61/223,154, “Supplemental Automotive Restraint System For PregnantWomen”, dated Jul. 6, 2009.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Although the research and development of this patent depends in part onpublic domain data generated in earlier federal research and developmentprograms, there was no federal involvement or support for the researchand development of the patent addressed by this application.

SEQUENCE LISTING, TABLE, COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING, OR COMPACT DISCAPPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When a motor vehicle is involved in an accident, the standard automotivelap and shoulder belt restraint system, if properly used, provides aminimum level of protection from crash injury to the passengers ordriver as required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number208—Occupant Crash Protection. This minimum level of protection iscurrently required for adult passengers and drivers who are either a5^(th) percentile adult female or a 50^(th) percentile adult male. Forpersons who are smaller than a 5^(th) percentile adult female,supplemental restraint devices are required to provide a minimum levelof protection pursuant to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213.There are currently no motor vehicle safety standards relating to adultslarger than a 50^(th) percentile male adult, or to a pregnant woman ofany size and her unborn child(ren).

The purpose of the “Method For Supplemental Automotive Restraint ForPregnant Women” (Method/Device) is to provide enhanced protection forthe pregnant mother and her unborn child(ren).

There are several categories of injuries that occur to lap and shoulderbelted occupants in motor vehicle crashes. One category results fromviolent contact with the steering wheel, the inner door surfaces andrelated components, the dashboard area and related components, thewindshield, side windows and their related frames, and other objects. Asecond category involves injuries caused by inflating air bags, and athird category involves injuries caused by the lap and shoulder belts.These belt-induced injuries are commonly referred as “Seat BeltSyndrome”. “Seat Belt Syndrome” injuries are signified by skin abrasionsof the neck, chest, and abdomen, which indicate internal injury inapproximately 30% of cases. Neck abrasions are associated with injuriesto the carotid artery, larynx, and cervical spine. Chest abrasions areassociated with fractures of the sternum, ribs, and clavicles, andinjuries to the lungs, heart and thoracic aorta. Abdominal abrasions areassociated with mesenteric tears, bowel perforation and hematoma,injuries to the abdominal aorta and injuries to the spine, spinal cord,and pelvis.^(i) These injuries are exacerbated when the lap belt slipsup over the pelvis and into the lower abdominal cavity. This is commonlyreferred to as “submarining”, and it is the natural tendency and afrequent occurrence in motor vehicle crashes and at other times.^(i)Hayes, Conway, Walsh, Coppage, & Gervin, “Seat Belt Injuries:Radiologic and Clinical Correlation”, Department of Radiology, MedicalCollege of Virginia, Radiographics, January 1991, 11(1):23-36

There are two categories of forces between the seat belts and the bodyof the person. The first involves the static forces that are intended tohold the belts in place during normal vehicle operations. These staticforces are typically provided by a seat belt retractor or similardevice. These forces are minimal in the absence of a crash or otherabrupt motion change (acceleration) of the vehicle, and are associatedprimarily with the comfort of the passenger. They are inconsequential incausing injury to the passenger provided that they maintain the belts inthe proper position prior to the crash.

The second category of force between the seat belts and the body of theperson involves the dynamic forces between the surface of the body andthe lap and shoulder belts as required to restrain the body in thevehicle during the abrupt motions of crash or other event. These forcesexist only when the vehicle is undergoing a crash or other abrupt motionchange (acceleration).

Seat Belt Syndrome injuries result from this second category of dynamicforces. These forces are applied to the limited area of direct contactbetween the belts and the surface of the body. The application of thesehigh dynamic forces to the limited area of contact between the belts andthe person's body causes high stresses and strains in various parts ofthe body, which are the root causes of Seat Belt Syndrome injuries.

The mechanisms of injury to the fetus are less well documented, but therisk of injury is clearly extended to the unborn child. Of pregnantwomen who are treated for injury in hospital emergency departments,“Motor Vehicle occupant injuries were the leading mechanism of emergencydepartment injury-related visits . . . . Pregnant women with aninjury-related emergency department visit were more likely thannon-injured pregnant women to experience pre-term labor, placentalabruption, and cesarean delivery.^(ii) ^(ii)Weiss, Sauber-Schatz andCook, “The Epidemiology of Pregnancy-Associated Emergency DepartmentInjury Visits and their Impact on Birth Outcomes”, Accident Analysis andPrevention, Volume 40, Issue 3, May, 2008, pp. 1088-1095.

The unborn child is at risk because the mother's abdomen provideslimited protection against objects that impinge on the abdomen, such asthe steering wheel, lap and shoulder belts, air bag restraints, doorhandles and other objects and surfaces within the vehicle that arelikely to contact and apply force to the mother's body in both accidentand non-accident situations. In particular, the lap and shoulder belts,steering wheel and air bags are designed to protect the mother. Theyalso provide some protection to the fetus, but in addition, all threepose additional side effect risks of injury to the fetus.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the “Method/Device” is to reduce the likelihood of injuryto a pregnant mother and her unborn child(ren) during maneuvering,crash, or other non-impact event of a motor vehicle while the mother isdriving or riding in the vehicle by preventing direct contact betweenthe lap and shoulder belts, air bags, steering wheel and other objectswith the abdomen; directing lap belt forces away from the abdomen andinto the pelvis and ribs to the extent feasible; directing shoulder beltforces away from the abdomen and into the pelvis and ribs to the extentfeasible; and applying the forces required to restrain the abdomenthrough an appropriately contoured and padded interior surface of the“Abdominal Bridge/Shell” protective structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the general shape and arrangement of the severalintegral parts of the Method/Device, including the “AbdominalBridge/Shell”, “Breast Plate”, “Pelvic Yoke” and “Crotch Post”, “SideWings”, and “Shoulder Belt Retainer”.

FIG. 2 illustrates a frontal view of the proper use of the Method/Devicewith the conventional lap and shoulder belts that are required to beinstalled in the vehicle by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.208, Occupant Crash Protection.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the proper use of the Method/Devicewith the conventional lap and shoulder belts that are required to beinstalled in the vehicle by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.208, Occupant Crash Protection, including a representation of theinternal spacing/padding elements used to accommodate the changinganthropometry of the pregnant woman during her pregnancy.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side-frontal view of the proper use of theMethod/Device with the conventional lap and shoulder belts that arerequired to be installed in the vehicle by Federal Motor Vehicle SafetyStandard No. 208, Occupant Crash Protection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The “Method/Device” provides an enhanced level of protection to both themother and her unborn child(ren) as follows:

1. Lap Belt Forces. The lap belt is intended to be positioned low on thetorso such that lap belt forces are directed primarily into the area ofthe pelvic iliac crests. There is a common and natural tendency, bothduring crash events and at other times, for the lap belt to move abovethe area of the iliac crests to a position that allows penetration ofthe lower abdomen and application of lap belt forces directly to theabdomen. The “Method/Device” provides a geometric configuration andstructure to help prevent the “Method/Device” from moving upward on thewoman's body, maintain the lap belt below the abdomen, direct lap beltforces downward and aft to the mother's pelvic iliac crests and pubicbony structures through the “Pelvic Yoke” and integral “Crotch Post”,and direct the upper and rotational components of these forces to the“Abdominal Bridge/Shell” for transmission over the abdomen to the“Breast Plate”.

2. Shoulder Belt Forces. The shoulder belt is intended to be positionedabove the abdomen and below the neck to avoid direct application ofshoulder belt forces to the upper abdomen and neck. There is a commonand natural tendency, both during crash events and at other times, forthe shoulder belt to move both downward into the upper abdomen and/orupward into the area of the neck. The “Method/Device” provides ageometric configuration and structure to help maintain the shoulder beltabove the abdomen and below the neck (“Shoulder Belt Retainer”), directshoulder belt forces to the mother's sternum and ribs through thecontoured padded “Breast Plate” designed to provide a relatively evendistribution of shoulder belt forces over the surface of the torso, anddirect the lower and rotational components of these forces to the“Abdominal Bridge/Shell” for transmission over the abdomen to the“Pelvic Yoke”.

3. Submarining. When the lap belt applies the aft directed crash forcesto the iliac crests, which is the intended function of the lap belt, itnaturally causes, in combination with the forward directed, inertialforces caused by the restraint of the legs, a top-aft rotational torqueacting on the pelvis that tends to induce submarining of the pelvisunder the lap belt with resulting injury to the abdomen, spine and otherbody areas. The “Method/Device” provides a load path directly to thepubis by means of the “Crotch Post” to react the top-aft rotationaltorque on the pelvis to help prevent submarining of the pelvis under thelap belt, and direct the upper and rotational components of these forcesto the “Abdominal Bridge/Shell” for transmission over the abdomen to the“Breast Plate”.

4. Protective “Abdominal Bridge/Shell”. It is common in both crash andnon-crash situations for the lap and shoulder belts, air bags, steeringwheel, side panels and related components, dashboard and relatedcomponents, and other objects to contact, penetrate and/or distort theabdomen. The “Method/Device” provides a protective “AbdominalBridge/Shell” structure over the abdomen to protect the abdomen fromcontact, penetration and/or distortion by objects such as the lap andshoulder belts, air bags, steering wheel, side panels and relatedcomponents, dashboard and related components, and other objects, and tobridge the lap & shoulder belt crash forces over the abdomen and toeither the “Pelvic Yoke” or the “Breast Plate”.

5. “Abdominal Bridge/Shell” Catchment. There is a natural tendency forthe abdomen to move forward in a frontal crash and attempt to extrudeitself between the lap and shoulder belts. This causes extremedistortion and high potential for injury to the abdominal organs, spineand ribs. The “Method/Device” provides an appropriately contoured andpadded catchment chamber integral to the “Abdominal Bridge/Shell” tocatch and restrain the abdomen in a contoured protective shell thatprovides a relatively even application of the forces required torestrain the abdomen and reduce shape deformation of the abdominalorgans, spine, and ribs during the event.

6. “Side Wings”. There is a natural tendency for the door or othervehicle side structure to impact the side of the body particularlyduring side and/or rollover crashes. The “Method/Device” providesprotective “Side Wing” structures to provide enhanced protection for thepelvis, abdomen and lower ribs in side impact and rollover crashes andother incidents.

7. “Filler/Padding Elements”. The shape of the woman's bodyprogressively changes during the pregnancy. The “Method/Device” providesappropriate internal “Filler/Padding Elements” to accommodate thechanging anthropometry of the woman's body during pregnancy and preventexcessive distortion of the spine, abdomen and uterus.

8. Internal Padding. The “Method/Device” provides a relatively evendistribution of all residual crash forces to the surface of the mother'sbody through the contoured and padded inner surfaces of the“Method/Device”.

PRIOR ART

There is a wealth of prior art relating to safety belts in various typesof vehicles, including Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Numbers208, 209, and 213. This “Method/Device” augments and enhances theprotective capabilities of these devices.

In the patent literature, several devices are disclosed relative tobelt-type restraint systems for motor vehicles, including several (suchas References 5 and 6) that utilize a crotch strap to prevent the pelvisfrom submarining under the lap belt, which is its natural and highlyinjury producing tendency during crashes. Such crotch straps are highlyeffective in preventing submarining of the pelvis under the lap belt,and they are in common usage in military applications, competitiveracing vehicles, and child and infant restraint systems. They are not incommon usage by adults in passenger vehicles, and the level ofperformance they provide is not required under the applicable FederalMotor Vehicle Safety Standard #208 because the public has shown greatresistance to the usage of such devices, and it is judged that theeffect of crotch strap installation would be an undesirable reduction inseat belt usage rates. The “Method/Device” provides protection frompelvic submarining under the lap belt without a crotch strap by use of a“Crotch Post” which prevents pelvic submarining and provides a directload path for the application of lap belt crash forces to the pubisportion of the pelvis. It functions as an integral part of the “PelvicYoke” which provides a second direct load path for the application oflap belt crash forces to the pelvis through the iliac crests. Theintegral “Pelvic Yoke” and “Crotch Post” direct the rearward uppercomponents of these forces into the “Abdominal Bridge/Shell”, whichcarries them over the abdomen and reacts them against the bony ribsthrough the “Breast Plate”.

There are also several patents, such as References 3 and 4, which dealwith cushion or pillow like interventions of various types. Thesedevices provide little or no protection against pelvic submarining andextreme distortion of the abdomen and spine. In addition they wouldprovide very limited protection of the abdomen in crash impactsituations because in the absence of a semi-rigid shell or otherprotective structure, the belts will simply knife through the pillowsand produce the same types of injuries seen with conventional lap andshoulder belts. The lower steering wheel would behave in the same way.

Perhaps the closest prior art is illustrated in References 1 and 2,wherein a structural shell is positioned over the abdomen, and the lapbelt forces are directed into the shell. In this configuration,virtually all lap belt forces would be transmitted directly into andthrough the abdomen in the area of the uterus/fetus. Furthermore, thehigh location of the lap belt would increase the tendency of the pelvisto rotate and submarine under the lap belt resulting in increased injurypotential for both the mother and her unborn child(ren), This isopposite of the design intent and operation of the “Method/Device”,which directs these forces away from the abdomen and uterus, and intothe bony pelvis structure, and directs the upper rearward components ofthese forces to the “Abdominal Bridge/Shell” for transmission over theabdomen to the “Breast Plate”.

The “Method/Device” directs virtually all of the lap belt forcesrequired to restrain the hips and legs into the pelvis, and the uppercomponents of these forces are bridged over the abdomen into the “BreastPlate” where they are reacted into the lower rib structures through thepadded contoured surface of the “Breast Plate”. The forces required torestrain the upper thorax, neck, head and arms are directed primarilythrough the “Breast Plate” into the ribs. In the area above the “BreastPlate”, some of these forces are applied by the shoulder belt directlyto the area of the upper ribs, clavicles, and neck, which is the normaland intended function of the shoulder belt. The primary force directedinto the abdomen is the force required to restrain the abdomen itself,and there is no way to divert these forces away from the abdomen sincethey are required to react the body forces of the inertial mass of theabdomen itself.

Preferred Embodiment

In the preferred embodiment, the “Method/Device” is constructedprimarily of inner and outer layers of fiber reinforced plastic toachieve the required strength and flexibility to provide a high level ofsupplemental protection to the mother and child in a crash. The “PelvicYoke” and “Crotch Post” will be composed of dense plastic foam or othermaterial to reinforce and maintain spacing between the inner and outerlayers of the “Abdominal Bridge/Shell” to add the structural rigidityrequired to carry the high bending loads that will occur in this areaduring a crash. “Filler/Padding Elements” materials consist of a varietyof plastic foams, including semi rigid foams for the fill components,firm and highly damped flexible foams for the energy absorbing layers,and medium to light firmness foam for inner comfort and spacing layers.

Many materials could be used for this application, but care must beexercised to assure sufficient strength, flexibility and energyabsorption characteristics to provide a high level of supplementalprotection to the mother and child in a crash.

1. The “Method/Device” provides a geometric configuration and structureto prevent the “Method/Device” from moving upward on the woman's body,to maintain the lap belt below the abdomen, to direct lap belt forcesdownward and aft to the mother's pelvic iliac crests and pubic bonystructures through the “Pelvic Yoke” and integral “Crotch Post”, toprevent submarining of the pelvis under the lap belt, and to direct theupper and rotational components of these forces to the “AbdominalBridge/Shell” for transmission over the abdomen to the “Breast Plate”.2. The “Method/Device” provides a geometric configuration and structureto help maintain the shoulder belt above the abdomen and below the neck,to direct shoulder belt forces to the mother's sternum and ribs throughthe contoured padded “Breast Plate” designed to provide a relativelyeven distribution of shoulder belt forces over the surface of the torso,and to direct the lower and rotational components of these forces to the“Abdominal Bridge/Shell” for transmission over the abdomen to the“Pelvic Yoke”.
 3. The “Method/Device” provides an integrated protective‘abdominal shell’ and ‘bridging arch’ (“Abdominal Bridge/Shell”)structure over the abdomen to reduce the application of forces to theabdomen by transmitting forces over the abdomen between the “PelvicYoke” and the “Breast Plate”; to prevent impingement or direct impact ofthe abdomen by objects such as the lap and shoulder belts, air bags,steering wheel, dash broad, side panels and other objects; to preventthe direct application of lap and shoulder belt forces to the abdomen;and to provide a contoured and padded catchment to catch and restrainthe abdomen and prevent excessive distortion of the torso.
 4. The“Method/Device” provides multiple layers of energy absorbing material onthe inner surfaces of the “Method/Device” including semi rigid materialto fill excessive void space inside the “Method/Device” to accommodatethe varying shape of the woman's body during the progressive stages ofpregnancy and prevent excessive distortion of the abdomen, spine, ribsand uterus; and a layer of firm, highly damped energy absorbing materialfor padding inside the entire structure